Dionys Cesar double-hero in doubleheader

Two games in one day? Nothing better! There are now just 7 games left in the season after the doubleheader on Saturday...where has the time gone? In the first game, Scott Kazmir faced off against Gilbert De La Vara. Both games on Saturday were the traditional 7-inning games since they were back-to-back games.

Game 1

Despite the Skeeters loading the bases on 3 walks, they could not get anything to happen and ended the 1st inning scoreless. The Bluefish however were able to get 1 run on 3 hits to take the 1-0 lead.

Once again, in the 2nd inning, the Skeeters loaded the bases. This time it was 3 singles by Matt Hagen, Iggy Suarez, & Dominic Ramos, all with 1 out. Ofilio Castro then hit the 4th single in a row to score Hagen to tie the game at 1-1.

The Skeeters exploded in the 5th inning scoring 4 runs on 4 hits. Again, the Skeeters were able to load the bases with a single by Ofilio Castro, double by Dionys Cesar, & a 1-out walk to Steve Moss. Bubba Bell then grounded out to 2nd base but Castro was able to score to take the 2-1 lead. With 2 outs in the inning, Aaron Bates singled scoring Cesar & Moss, then came in to score on a double hit by Matt Hagen. 5-1 Skeeters! The Bluefish were able to get 2 runs back on 2 hits to make it 5-3 Skeeters after 5 innings.

The Skeeters added 1 run, which happened to be the winning run, when Dionys Cesar hit a 2-out, 1-run home run to make it 6-3 Skeeters in the 6th inning. Saul Rivera came out in relief for Kazmir and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits to make it 6-5 Skeeters.

After the Skeeters went 3 up & 3 down for the 7th inning, Gary Majewski came out in a save situation and delivered his 23rd save on the season for the Skeeters. Scott Kazmir also earned his 3rd win of the season. SKEETERS WIN 6-5!!

The MVP of the 1st game obviously goes to Dionys Cesar for his game-winning home run in the 6th inning. He went 2 for 4 with a double, home run, 1 RBI and scored twice.

Hitting Streaks:

Dominic Ramos (5)

Matt Hagen (4)

Aaron Bates (4)

Iggy Suarez (4)

Dionys Cesar (4)

Ofilio Castro (3)

Home Runs:

Dionys Cesar (2)

Game 2

Will Startup got the start for the Skeeters and faced off against Brad Thompson for the Bluefish.

This game was a much tighter game and very few hits were earned...5 total hits shared between the 2 teams.

The lone run of the game came in the 6th inning when Dominic Ramos was hit by a pitch, then worked his way over to 2nd base and finally scored on a 1-out single by Dionys Cesar.

The Skeeters' pitching staff combined efforts for a 2 hit shutout of the Bluefish to win the 2nd game of the day! SKEETERS WIN 1-0!!!

Will Startup went 3 innings, gave up 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 2. Pedro Liriano went 2 innings, gave up 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 3 for his 8th win of the season. Jeff Farnsworth went 2 innings, gave up no hits while striking out 2 for his 3d save of the season.

Again, the MVP of the game goes to Dionys Cesar for his game-winning RBI single in the 6th inning. He was 1 for 3 on the day with 1 RBI.

Hitting Streaks:

Dionys Cesar (5)

Manny Mejia (2)

Despite winning both games of the doubleheader, the Skeeters were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs after Lancaster won both of their doubleheader games on Saturday. With a strong finish on Sunday and then the 6-game, season-ending home stand against York, the Skeeters can still take 2nd place in the division for the 2nd half!

The final game of the Bluefish series is scheduled for Sunday at 1:05pm local time.